MarPop

MarPop, short for Maritime Pop, is a musical and cultural movement that emerged in coastal communities during the 2010s. It describes a style of pop music that foregrounds nautical imagery, coastal mood, and a blend of genres such as surf rock, indie pop, and electronic production. The term developed in online music discourse and fanzines, where fans described songs that evoke sea air, harbor towns, and memory.

Origins and development: It arose from DIY scenes in port cities and university towns with strong seaside identities. Proponents emphasized place and storytelling, often using imagery of boats, lighthouses, and tides to frame personal or collective narratives. The movement is less about a fixed sonic blueprint and more about a shared sensibility.

Musical characteristics: Typical MarPop tracks feature jangly guitars or lush guitar reverb, warm synthesizers, and steady pop-oriented rhythms. Vocals tend to be intimate and melodic, with hooks designed for radio or streaming playlists. Lyrics commonly explore travel, longing, resilience, and connections to water or coastlines.

Reception and influence: MarPop has had a modest but persistent impact on independent and indie-adjacent scenes. It has been adopted in festival branding and lifestyle media to evoke a sunny, sea-side aesthetic. Critics note its strength in mood and accessibility but caution that it can verge on stylistic branding rather than a cohesive stylistic movement.

See also: Trop pop, Surf rock, Indie pop.